BFWG Charitable Foundation - EMERGENCY GRANTS

What the Emergency Grant gives you

You will receive a one-off payment of up to about 2,900 EUR (£2,500) to help you complete an academic year if you find yourself in an unexpected financial emergency whilst studying. This is a one-off payment, not a monthly grant, and it covers living costs, not tuition fees. The money comes from ‘Funds for Women Graduates’ (FfWG), a UK-based educational foundation that supports women in postgraduate study. If necessary, you can apply again in a later round.

Who can apply

• Women only: This funding is aimed at female graduates.
• Level of study: You must be enrolled on a postgraduate programme. A bachelor’s degree or a second first degree will not be considered. If you are enrolled on a PGCE (teacher training) programme, you may apply and indicate this as a master’s programme on the form.
• Where you study: You must be enrolled at a UK university and be resident in the UK at the time the grant is awarded. Studying by distance learning from abroad is not sufficient.
• Time on course: By the deadline, you must have completed at least six months of your degree programme.
• Real financial emergency: You must provide evidence of an unexpected financial emergency, not just a general lack of money. This is not a top-up grant.
• Tuition covered: You must provide evidence that you can pay your tuition fees, as these are not covered by the scholarship.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply, whether they are from the UK or abroad.
• Age: No upper age limit.
• Field of study: All topics and areas of research are eligible.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the FfWG website. The current application round closes on 29 September, and the results will be announced in December. Grants are awarded twice a year. You will need two referees (people who can vouch for you), one of whom must be from the academic sector. They will be notified automatically by email when you submit your application. A committee will make its decision based on your explanation of the funding gap, your financial needs and your references. There will be no interview.

How realistic are your chances?

The charity openly admits that it consistently receives more applications than it can fund, meaning that not everyone who meets the criteria will receive money. Your application depends on your ability to demonstrate a genuine, unexpected emergency and a clear financial hardship – not on your grades. A well-documented crisis situation with convincing supporting evidence is what makes the difference. Focus on explaining exactly what has gone wrong and why financial support is so crucial.